"I hit it good starting out, hit it kind of scrappy in the middle and then hit it good at the end," Woods said. "But it was just one or the other. I either hit it good and missed the putt, and then scrap around and make a putt."

In his other two events this year, Woods was eight shots behind after the opening round at Torrey Pines and five shots behind at Dubai. He goes into the second round Friday outside the cut line.

Two years ago, McIlroy had four rounds in the 60s at PGA National for a two-shot victory that moved him to No. 1 in the world for the first time in his career.

Thursday brought another chapter of McIlroy and the Honda Classic.

With some long birdie putts, a few key saves, three birdies to start the back nine and two more at the end, McIlroy had a 7-under 63 to take a one-shot lead over Russell Henley after the first round.

"It's not like I was out there thinking about what had happened last year or what had happened the year before that when I won," McIlroy said. "It's a new tournament. It's on a tough golf course, and I need to focus all my energy and thoughts into playing these 18 holes. You can't really let any other thoughts creep into your mind because it is such a tough golf course and you can't really lose concentration out here.

"You've got to stay on point the whole time."

That he was. It was the second time this year that McIlroy opened with a 63. He also did that at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Masters champion Adam Scott, in his first event in six weeks, opened with a 68. British Open champion Phil Mickelson had a 70.